Oh yeah… we doing blog posts still! The Wiz is a movie I still can't believe happened. A black version of The Wizard of Oz directed by the amazing Sydney Lumet, written by Joel Schumacher of all people, and with music written by Quincy Jones and Luthor Vandross. Sung by some of the illest to ever do it.
Let's get into 10 of the best songs from this masterpiece!
Song/Rank:
#10-'Poppy Girls'
Performers:
Quincy Jones
Why Though:
No lyrics, just a groovy bassline and what I can only assume is some great horn work. Guess what I didn't rewatch the movie for this list. I think I've seen the movie all the way through maybe twice. I dig the soundtrack something fierce though! If memory serves me, this song plays while our heroes get got by the 'poppies.' You may remember a much less funky scene in the original where the wicked witch makes Dorthy and them go to sleep.
- Julius 'Nipsey' Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005) was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid.
- Nipsey Russell, Actor: The Wiz. Nipsey Russell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1918. He got his start in Rock and Roll Review and other music revues in the 1950s. In the 1960s Russell achieved his first major role as Officer Anderson in Car 54, Where Are You? After being on the show for a year, Russell was a mainstay on variety shows, appearing on Laugh-In, The Dean.
Song/Rank:
#9- 'Slide Some Oil To Me/Now Watch Me Dance'
Performers:
Nipsey Russell (as Tinman)
Why Though:
This song took a while to grow on me. While I always appreciated the 'Now Watch Me Dance' portion of the song for the choir like singing layered under Nipsey's tapping, I have to admit it wasn't till I found myself singing the lyrics of 'Slide Some Oil To Me' to myself on a consistent basis that I realized that this song is catchy in the best kind of way. This song replaces 'If I only had a Heart' as the introduction to the Tinman. But don't worry Nipsey gets another great song that I think tops 'If I only had a Heart' later on this list!
Nipsey Russell 'Slide Some Oil to Me' - Nipsey Russell 'Ease on Down the Road #2' - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell 'I'm a Mean Ole Lion' - Ted Ross 'Ease on Down the Road #3' - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross 'Poppy Girls' (Anthony Jackson) (instrumental) Levy kaksi, A-puoli.
Song/Rank:
#8- '(I'm A) Mean Ole Lion'
Performers:
Ted Ross (as Lion)
Why Though:
In the clip I've provided, it's the 1:06 mark that truly gets me about this song. It's sort of like the pre-chorus that has a cadence I just have to love mixed with some nice bass and some triumphant horn stabs and some furious strings to bring everything together. I'll tell you this, I'll take this song over 'lions and tigers and bears, oh my' any day.
Song/Rank:
#7- 'Emerald City Sequence'
Performers:
Richard Pryor (as The Wiz) & Chorus
Why Though:
Yup the horns do it for me yet again. Every time The Wiz changes his mind about what's in there's a great bit of music for the horns to perform. However, there's such a dope overall atmosphere to this number overall. It's certainly a different vibe from the introduction to Oz in the Judy Garland version.
Song/Rank:
#6- 'Home'
Performers:
Diana Ross (as Dorothy)
Why Though:
So I watched Pose this year and that was basically the catalyst for this whole list. Hearing Blanca and Pray Tell do this number on the show reminded me of how much I love this soundtrack. I don't usually go in for songs like this but there's something special about when this song comes up in the movie and how the phrasing works on this song that I just feel comforted.
Song/Rank:
#5- 'Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News'
Performers:
Mabel King (as Evillene) & Chorus
Why Though:
I like the church feel to this song. I also feel like it could have been a FIRE theme song to a sit com back in the day. Plus it's nice to get some insight into this version of the wicked witch instead of just hearing her guards lament their servitude like in the other version. Plus in terms of villains go, I can get on board with someone who wants to keep a positive headspace by requesting that no one give her bad news ever.
Song/Rank:
#4- 'Ease on Down The Road'
Performers:
Diana Ross (as Dorothy) & Michael Jackson (as Scarecrow)
Why Though:
From the first time I heard this song I just knew I had to rub it in everyones face that this is a way better rallying song than 'We're Off to See the Wizard.' MJ and Tracee's mom doing a duet with some great bass, piano, and horns! Plus they're not just skipping down that road. They are going off with those dance moves! It may not be the most efficient way to get down the yellow brick road, but you better believe it's cooler!
Song/Rank:
#3- 'You Can't Win'
Performers:
Michael Jackson (as Scarecrow) & Derrick Bell/Roderick-Spencer Sibert/Kashko Banjoko/Ronald 'Smokey' Stevens (as Crows)
Why Though:
Something that has been proven again and again while writing for this site is that I love songs that sound happy but are actually sad. I don't know why, but the pure despair of this song which doesn't all together replace 'If I only Had a Brain' but certainly introduces us to Michael's Scarecrow, is delivered is such an upbeat fashion. It's a bop about giving up.
Song/Rank:
#2- 'He's The Wizard/March of the Munchkins'
Performers:
Quincy Jones
Why Though:
No lyrics, just a groovy bassline and what I can only assume is some great horn work. Guess what I didn't rewatch the movie for this list. I think I've seen the movie all the way through maybe twice. I dig the soundtrack something fierce though! If memory serves me, this song plays while our heroes get got by the 'poppies.' You may remember a much less funky scene in the original where the wicked witch makes Dorthy and them go to sleep.
- Julius 'Nipsey' Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005) was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid.
- Nipsey Russell, Actor: The Wiz. Nipsey Russell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1918. He got his start in Rock and Roll Review and other music revues in the 1950s. In the 1960s Russell achieved his first major role as Officer Anderson in Car 54, Where Are You? After being on the show for a year, Russell was a mainstay on variety shows, appearing on Laugh-In, The Dean.
Song/Rank:
#9- 'Slide Some Oil To Me/Now Watch Me Dance'
Performers:
Nipsey Russell (as Tinman)
Why Though:
This song took a while to grow on me. While I always appreciated the 'Now Watch Me Dance' portion of the song for the choir like singing layered under Nipsey's tapping, I have to admit it wasn't till I found myself singing the lyrics of 'Slide Some Oil To Me' to myself on a consistent basis that I realized that this song is catchy in the best kind of way. This song replaces 'If I only had a Heart' as the introduction to the Tinman. But don't worry Nipsey gets another great song that I think tops 'If I only had a Heart' later on this list!
Nipsey Russell 'Slide Some Oil to Me' - Nipsey Russell 'Ease on Down the Road #2' - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell 'I'm a Mean Ole Lion' - Ted Ross 'Ease on Down the Road #3' - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross 'Poppy Girls' (Anthony Jackson) (instrumental) Levy kaksi, A-puoli.
Song/Rank:
#8- '(I'm A) Mean Ole Lion'
Performers:
Ted Ross (as Lion)
Why Though:
In the clip I've provided, it's the 1:06 mark that truly gets me about this song. It's sort of like the pre-chorus that has a cadence I just have to love mixed with some nice bass and some triumphant horn stabs and some furious strings to bring everything together. I'll tell you this, I'll take this song over 'lions and tigers and bears, oh my' any day.
Song/Rank:
#7- 'Emerald City Sequence'
Performers:
Richard Pryor (as The Wiz) & Chorus
Why Though:
Yup the horns do it for me yet again. Every time The Wiz changes his mind about what's in there's a great bit of music for the horns to perform. However, there's such a dope overall atmosphere to this number overall. It's certainly a different vibe from the introduction to Oz in the Judy Garland version.
Song/Rank:
#6- 'Home'
Performers:
Diana Ross (as Dorothy)
Why Though:
So I watched Pose this year and that was basically the catalyst for this whole list. Hearing Blanca and Pray Tell do this number on the show reminded me of how much I love this soundtrack. I don't usually go in for songs like this but there's something special about when this song comes up in the movie and how the phrasing works on this song that I just feel comforted.
Song/Rank:
#5- 'Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News'
Performers:
Mabel King (as Evillene) & Chorus
Why Though:
I like the church feel to this song. I also feel like it could have been a FIRE theme song to a sit com back in the day. Plus it's nice to get some insight into this version of the wicked witch instead of just hearing her guards lament their servitude like in the other version. Plus in terms of villains go, I can get on board with someone who wants to keep a positive headspace by requesting that no one give her bad news ever.
Song/Rank:
#4- 'Ease on Down The Road'
Performers:
Diana Ross (as Dorothy) & Michael Jackson (as Scarecrow)
Why Though:
From the first time I heard this song I just knew I had to rub it in everyones face that this is a way better rallying song than 'We're Off to See the Wizard.' MJ and Tracee's mom doing a duet with some great bass, piano, and horns! Plus they're not just skipping down that road. They are going off with those dance moves! It may not be the most efficient way to get down the yellow brick road, but you better believe it's cooler!
Song/Rank:
#3- 'You Can't Win'
Performers:
Michael Jackson (as Scarecrow) & Derrick Bell/Roderick-Spencer Sibert/Kashko Banjoko/Ronald 'Smokey' Stevens (as Crows)
Why Though:
Something that has been proven again and again while writing for this site is that I love songs that sound happy but are actually sad. I don't know why, but the pure despair of this song which doesn't all together replace 'If I only Had a Brain' but certainly introduces us to Michael's Scarecrow, is delivered is such an upbeat fashion. It's a bop about giving up.
Song/Rank:
#2- 'He's The Wizard/March of the Munchkins'
Performers:
Thelma Carpenter (as Miss One) & Chorus
Why Though:
What I can only assume is a Tuba takes this song over the top. Yes there is an interesting vocal performance by Thelma Carpenter with child like back up singers, but it's that horn just driving the whole shebang! I don't remember what the ‘39 equivalent is to this song, I don't even remember this song in the actual movie. I just know I listen to it on a fairly consistent basis and it slaps!
Song/Rank:
#1- 'What Would I Do If I Could Feel?'
Performers:
Nipsey Russell (as Tinman) & Chorus
Why Though:
Here we are. The song that I think tops 'If I Only Had a Heart' and yes I know that's the same melody as 'If I Only Had A Brain.' I'm just saying, Tinman wise, this is the one! This is not only my favourite song on the soundtrack, it's one of my favourite songs point blank. Yes it does sound as sad as it is. But I can't help but sing along and get wrapped up in the instrumentation as well as vocal performances.
Slide Some Oil Lyrics
-YG
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Nipsey Russell Poems
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